Technical marketing skills involve using both traditional marketing know-how and practical abilities with modern technologies. Today, 58% of workers need new skills because of digital changes and a huge increase in data. This means people must know how to use technology to understand data and help their companies grow. For example, mastering tools like Google Analytics or data visualization software can help you stand out more in the competitive job market, specifically in the marketing field.
Moreover, the number of skills needed for one job has been going up by 10% each year since 2017. In this article, we explore the top skill set that marketers must have and various tools they must know in 2024, making it easier for them to succeed in a world that keeps changing with digital transformation in the ever-evolving digital landscape.
Table of Contents
The skills encompass the practical knowledge necessary for specific job tasks and play a crucial role in the workplace. For instance, 59% of employees acknowledge that training significantly improves their overall job performance.
Distinguishing themselves from soft skills, which include interpersonal abilities, technical marketing skills are tangible proficiencies specific to a job or industry. Examples range from interpreting data, data analysis to visualizing data, and project management software proficiency.
In the following sections, we'll explore the significance of technical marketing skills, their differentiation from soft skills, and provide insights into their application in the modern workplace. Understanding the importance of technical skills in marketing is crucial to navigating the evolving demands in the marketing world.
📚Further reading: Discover 9 Marketing Career Paths [+ Skills Needed & Salary Ranges]
For marketing positions, data-driven decisions are crucial. Tools like Google Analytics and CRM systems (Salesforce, Zoho CRM, and Pipedrive) enable the collection of valuable insights into consumer behavior. These tools help marketers measure campaign effectiveness and adapt strategies in real time for optimal results.
Proficiency in data analysis empowers marketers to extract actionable insights, guiding strategic decision-making for impactful campaigns. As we explore data analysis further, we'll delve into specific techniques and practical applications to harness the full potential of data in marketing strategies.
Example of Data Analysis Skills for Resume
"Applied advanced data analysis techniques using relevant tools like Google Analytics, resulting in a 25% increase in website conversion rates for the company's digital marketing campaigns.”
How to Improve Data Analysis Skills?
Google Analytics Academy: It provides free online courses that explore various aspects of marketing analytics, essential for marketing roles. Successfully completing these courses and passing the certification exam showcases proficiency in using Google Analytics to derive marketing insights.
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate: It offers a certification specifically for data analysts. While not marketing-specific, it covers foundational data analysis skills that apply to marketing scenarios.
Microsoft Certified: Data Analyst Associate: It offers a certification specifically for data analysts. While not marketing-specific, it covers foundational data analysis skills that apply to marketing scenarios.
LinkedIn Learning: Data Analysis: It offers various courses on data analytics, including those specifically focused on marketing career. Certificates of completion can be added to your LinkedIn profile.
Coursera: Google Data Analytics Professional Certificate: Explore courses from universities and institutions worldwide on Coursera. "Google Data Analytics" and "Marketing Analytics" are examples of courses that provide a comprehensive understanding of data analytics in marketing.
Udacity: Digital Marketing: It offers nano degree programs in data analytics and digital marketing. These programs provide hands-on projects and industry-relevant skills, culminating in a certification upon completion.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and Search Engine Marketing (SEM) are two distinct yet interconnected approaches to enhance online visibility.
What's the difference between SEO and SEM?
Understanding and implementing both SEM and SEO skills are crucial for maximizing online visibility. While SEO provide sustainable, organic growth, SEM offers immediate visibility through paid campaigns. Together, they ensure a comprehensive approach for digital marketers to reach and engage target audiences effectively.
Tools used in SEO/SEM:
Example of SEO Skills for Resume
“Implemented a robust SEO strategy, optimizing website content and structure, leading to a notable 30% increase in organic traffic and improved search engine rankings."
Example of SEM Skills for Resume
"Managed and optimized Google Ads SEM campaigns, achieving a commendable 25% enhancement in click-through rates and a 20% reduction in cost-per-click, contributing to a more cost-effective and impactful online presence."
How to Improve SEO & SEM Skills?
Google Ads Certification: It offers a certification program for Google Ads. The certification covers essential aspects of SEM, including PPC advertising.
Moz Academy: It offers online courses through its academy, covering a range of SEO topics. Completing these courses can enhance your SEO knowledge and skills.
SEMrush Academy: It provides a variety of courses through its academy, covering both SEO and SEM. Completing these courses can earn you certifications.
Yoast SEO Training: Yoast, a popular SEO plugin for WordPress, offers a range of SEO courses through its academy. These courses can be beneficial for learning SEO best practices.
Coursera - SEM Training: Learn the foundational principles of online search marketing, including creating structured Google Ads Search Campaigns, designing effective targeting options, compelling ads, and utilizing keyword matching strategies.
Coursera - SEO Specialization by the University of California, Davis: This specialization on Coursera covers SEO fundamentals and is offered by the University of California, Davis. It includes multiple courses and a certification.
📚 Further reading: SEO Resume Examples (Advanced Resume & Cover Letter Tips)
Content marketing skills are defined as the set of technical skills required to effectively create, distribute, and manage content that appeals to and retains a specific audience. These skills involve not just crafting engaging content but also understanding audience needs, strategic planning, and using analytics for campaign effectiveness.
The significance of these skills is highlighted by their impact on cost and lead generation: content marketing is 62% less expensive than outbound marketing and generates three times more leads. Furthermore, the strategic importance of content marketing is emphasized by the fact that about 72% of successful North American marketers actively measure their content marketing ROI. This underscores the necessity of these skills in building brand awareness, loyalty, trust, and establishing long-term customer relationships. Additionally, the ability to effectively publish content and utilize a content management system is essential in modern content marketing strategies.
Types of Content Marketing:
Content marketing can take various forms, including:
Social media platforms, blogs, and email newsletters are the most used channels for content distribution, with over 90% of marketers using social media platforms for this purpose.
Tools Used in Content Marketing:
Example of Content Marketing Skills for Resume
“Led a content marketing campaign that increased web traffic by 40%, resulting in a 25% growth in lead generation and a 15% increase in sales within a 6-month period, through strategic use of SEO tools, targeted blog posts, and social media engagement."
How to Improve Content Marketing Skills?
HubSpot Academy's Content Marketing Certification: This course is free and covers a wide range of content marketing topics. It is suitable for beginners and intermediate marketers, offering nearly eight hours of content including 54 videos and 11 quizzes. Upon completion, you can earn a Content Marketing Certification by passing an exam.
Google's "Promote a Business with Content" Course: Offered through Google Digital Garage, this free course is ideal for beginners and covers topics like social media, video marketing, and content marketing basics. The course is approximately 3 hours long and is a great way to understand Google's approach to content marketing and promotion.
HubSpot Academy's Inbound Marketing Certification: Another free offering from HubSpot Academy, this course covers the fundamentals of inbound marketing. It is an ideal starting point for new marketing professionals or experienced professionals shifting into marketing.
📚 Further reading: 5 Content Marketing Tips To Boost Your Personal Brand
Social media skills refer to the capabilities and expertise required to effectively use social media platforms for various purposes, such as marketing, communication, brand building, and customer engagement. In the digital age, these technical skills are increasingly important as social media has become a primary platform for businesses and individuals to connect with their audience, promote products or services, and build brand awareness.
Key Aspects of Social Media Skills Include:
1. Understanding Different Platforms: Each social media channel has unique characteristics and audience demographics, making it crucial to tailor content creation and strategies accordingly. For instance, LinkedIn is ideal for B2B marketing with 96% of B2B marketers using it, while platforms like Instagram and TikTok are more suited for visually appealing content and reaching younger audiences.
2. Engaging with Audiences: Effectively interacting with followers, responding to comments, and being part of conversations are vital for building a loyal community. This engagement can lead to a significant increase in spending by customers, with interaction on social media leading them to spend 20-40% more on products and services.
Tools Used in Social Media Marketing:
As of 2024, Google Analytics is the most heavily used tool in social media marketing. It's essential for tracking website traffic from social media campaigns, allowing marketers to analyze user behavior and measure campaign effectiveness. This widespread use highlights Google Analytics' key role in informed decision-making for social media strategies. However, it's critical to understand various social media platforms and employ tools for tracking performance and analyzing data.
Example of Social Media Skills for Resume
"Developed and executed a comprehensive social media strategy across multiple platforms, resulting in a 50% increase in audience engagement, a 30% growth in follower count, and a 20% rise in conversion rates over a 12-month period."
How to Improve Social Media Skills?
HubSpot Academy's Social Media Marketing Course: This comprehensive course covers building a social media strategy, utilizing digital technologies, and much more. It's designed for marketing managers, business owners, social media managers, and influencers. The course is approximately 5 hours long and offers a Social Media Marketing Certification upon completion.
SkillUp by Simplilearn - Social Media Foundations: This 3-hour course introduces social media and covers social media marketing, channel management, and more. It offers an official course completion certificate.
Alison's Complete Social Media Marketing Course: This course, ideal for various professionals, covers major social media platforms, split testing, and funnel building. The duration is 1.5 to 3 hours, and you'll receive a CPD-Accredited Alison Diploma/Certificate upon completion.
Oxford Home Study Centre's Social Media Marketing (Short Course): This course covers a wide range of social media marketing topics and includes tutor support. While the course itself is free, there is a small fee to receive the official course completion certificate from Oxford Home Study Centre, a CPD-Accredited Certificate, and an Endorsed Certificate issued by the Quality Licence Scheme.
Semrush Academy's Social Media Marketing Crash Course: This 1 hour and 15 minutes course is great for gaining insights into social media best practices and tools. It covers topics like competitor benchmarking, audience insights, and more, and provides a course completion certificate signed by Semrush and Janet Machuka upon completion.
📚 Further reading: The Ultimate Social Media Resume Guide (with Examples)
Email marketing is a technical marketing skill that involves sending emails to promote products, services, or convey updates. Its effectiveness is underlined by significant engagement rates, with 77% of marketers noting an increase in email interaction, and segmented emails achieving 30% more opens and 50% more click-throughs. The ROI for email marketing is also noteworthy, with large businesses seeing returns of approximately $59.44 for every $1.35 spent. Furthermore, about half of consumers prefer email for brand communication, highlighting its role in customer relationship management.
Core Email Marketing Skills:
1. Writing Persuasive Email Copy: This skill involves creating emails that not only engage but also motivate recipients to take action, like making a purchase or visiting a website. This directly contributes to "Driving Sales" as compelling copy can effectively promote special deals, new products, or exclusive information, thereby encouraging purchases.
2. Designing Engaging Email Content: The visual design of emails, including the use of colors, images, and layout, is crucial for catching the recipient's eye and aligning with the brand's aesthetic. This aspect of email marketing supports the role of "Personalized Content" by creating visually appealing emails that address individual preferences and enhance personal connection, thereby boosting customer loyalty.
3. Understanding Email Analytics: Mastery in analyzing data such as open rates, click-through rates, and conversion rates is essential for optimizing email campaigns and understanding customer behavior. This skill underpins the "Regular Engagement" role by providing insights into which content resonates with customers, helping to maintain a continuous and effective connection with them.
4. Segmentation and Personalization: Tailoring emails based on user behavior, demographics, or purchase history allows for more personalized and effective communication. This skill is pivotal in enhancing the "Personalized Content" aspect of email marketing. By customizing emails to individual customer profiles, marketers can create a more engaging and relevant experience, thus strengthening customer relationships.
5. Email List Management: Growing and maintaining the health of an email list ensures low bounce rates and compliance with marketing laws. Effective list management contributes to "Regular Engagement" by ensuring that the brand stays connected with a clean, responsive, and compliant list of subscribers.
Tools Used in Email Marketing:
Example of Email Marketing Skills for Resume
"Managed an email marketing campaign that achieved a 35% open rate and a 10% click-through rate, significantly above industry averages, resulting in a 20% increase in lead conversions and a 15% uptick in sales revenue over a 9-month period."
How To Improve Email Marketing Skills?
Simplilearn's Free Email Marketing Course: This beginner-level course offers around 5 hours of video content. It covers fundamental concepts of email marketing, list-building strategies, automating emails, creating landing pages, writing persuasive copy, and more.
Email and Newsletter Marketing Foundations (LinkedIn Learning): This 45-minute beginner-level course is taught by Megan Adams, a marketer with over 7 years of experience. It covers the key elements of email marketing, building and segmenting a contact list, campaign strategy, and using analytics to optimize strategy.
HubSpot's Email Marketing Course: HubSpot Academy offers a comprehensive course taught by experts Courtney Sembler and Diana Zalaquett. This beginner-level course, which spans 3 ¼ hours, covers email marketing using HubSpot’s own free tools.
Video production and editing are creative and technical marketing skills that are becoming increasingly vital due to the surge in demand for video across digital platforms. For instance, 90% of marketers find video marketing effective in lead generation, 86% report it increases website traffic, and 83% observe an increase in website dwell time.
Furthermore, over 90% of consumers discover new brands on YouTube, and 84% have been convinced to make a purchase after watching a brand's video, highlighting video's strong influence on consumer behavior. The dominance of video in online traffic is evident, with it accounting for 82.5% of all web traffic in 2023 and projected to rise to 91% by 2024. Additionally, 85% of internet users in the United States engage with online video content, demonstrating its wide-reaching impact across various demographics.
Core Video Marketing Skills:
1. Conceptualization and Scriptwriting: This is the first and foundational stage, where the initial concept or idea for the video is developed. Scriptwriting involves crafting the narrative or message, defining the dialogue, and setting the tone and style of the video.
2. Storyboarding and Planning: Once the script is ready, storyboarding begins. This process involves creating visual representations (like a comic strip) of how each scene will look and play out. Planning also includes logistics, such as scheduling, location scouting, casting, and budgeting.
3. Filming and Videography: This stage involves setting up the location, lighting, capturing the footage as per the storyboard, directing actors or subjects, and ensuring all elements align with the vision of the video.
4. Video Editing and Post-Production: Involves cutting and assembling raw footage, adding elements like music, sound effects, voice-overs, and special effects, followed by color correction and audio mixing to refine the visual tone and aesthetic, ensuring the final video meets quality standards and is ready for distribution.
Tools Used in Video Marketing:
Example of Video Marketing Skills for Resume
“Oversaw the complete lifecycle of a video production and editing project, achieving a 40% increase in online engagement and 30% higher social media shares, which contributed to a 25% boost in brand visibility over 12 months.”
How to Improve Video Marketing Skills?
HubSpot Academy's Video Marketing Course: It offers a course on video marketing where you can learn how to create, distribute, and measure the impact of your video marketing efforts. Upon completing the course, you can earn a certification to validate your skills and knowledge in the field.
Video Production Courses on Coursesity: It offers a selection of free video production courses and certifications. These courses cover various aspects of video production, from planning and cinematography to editing and distribution. Completing these courses can help you develop the necessary skills to produce high-quality videos.
Free Video Production Certification Courses on Class Central: It provides access to free online courses in video editing and certifications from reputable institutions. These courses are designed to teach video editing skills and offer certificates upon completion. They cover a wide range of topics and cater to different skill levels, from beginners to advanced learners.
📚 Further reading: Best Videographer Resume Guide (w/ Summary, Objective, Skill Examples)
Design is the art of creating visuals that effectively communicate and engage an audience. This includes making websites and apps that are easy to use and look good, as well as creating a brand's visual identity and designing ads and digital content.
Design is important because it makes a strong first impression, with studies showing that 94% of initial reactions are design-related. Also, most of us process images much faster than text, making visual design a key tool in quickly conveying messages. Companies often invest in design to stand out from their competitors, with 73% doing so to make their brand unique.
Key Design Skills in Marketing
1. Creativity and Innovation: The ability to generate new ideas and concepts is fundamental. Creative thinking in design leads to the development of impactful visuals. This skill is essential in website and app development, as it helps create unique and engaging user interfaces. In branding, advertising, and digital media, creativity sets apart visuals, making them memorable and effective in conveying a brand's message.
2. Visual Communication: This involves the ability to convey messages and information through visual elements. In web and app development, it's about creating interfaces that communicate effectively without overwhelming the user. For branding and advertising, visual communication is key in creating images and layouts that tell a brand's story and connect with the audience.
3. Technical Proficiency: Knowledge of design tools and software is crucial. This includes mastery of programs like Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, and web design tools. Tech skills allow a designer to bring creative ideas to life, whether it's through a website’s layout, a mobile app's interface, or digital ads and social media graphics.
4. Problem Solving: Design often involves finding creative solutions to challenges. Whether it's improving user experience on a website, making an app more intuitive, or creating an ad that captures the essence of a brand, problem-solving skills enable designers to navigate challenges and deliver effective solutions.
Tools Used in Design for Marketing:
Example of Design Skills for Resume
"Revamped the visual design of Company X's website and mobile app, leading to a 30% increase in user engagement and a 20% rise in online sales within 6 months, through the implementation of user-centered design principles and data-driven aesthetics."
How to Improve Design Skills?
CareerFoundry's Free UX Design Course: This self-paced course takes about 90 minutes total, spread over a week. It includes an introduction to UX design, covering topics like the design process, career paths, core UX skills, and portfolio-building tips.
Canva Design School: Canva offers a free course titled "Introduction to Graphic Design". It's structured into four modules covering the use of fonts, colors, images, backgrounds, layouts, shapes, grids, transparency, filters, and more. This self-paced course is ideal for beginners (Pixpa).
UI/UX Design Specialization by CalArts on Coursera: This course, which takes about 2 months at 10 hours per week, covers visual elements of UI design, UX design fundamentals, web design strategy, information architecture, wireframes, and prototypes. It's suitable for those with some graphic design experience.
Graphic Design 101: An Overview of the Field - Skillshare: This course, presented by designer and art director Mason Gentry, uses critiques and reviews of various designs to teach the principles of graphic design. It's a unique approach for those curious about the 'whys' behind design decisions (Pixpa).
📚 Further reading: Designer Resume Writing Guide with Examples and Tips
This is one of the most vital technical skills in marketing. It involves strategic planning, execution, and oversight of tasks to ensure the successful realization of marketing goals. The importance of these technical skills in marketing is highlighted by the growing reliance on project management tools and practices, as evidenced by the $4.80 billion market value of project portfolio management solutions in 2022.
Effective project management in marketing is not just about task completion; it also enhances team communication, project tracking, and team synergy, which are essential for the success of marketing campaigns. This technical approach to managing marketing efforts underscores the critical role of project management skills in the success of marketing campaigns and the overall efficiency of marketing departments.
Core Project Planning Skills in Marketing:
1. Planning and Goal Setting: This involves defining the scope, goals, and objectives of the project. Clear goal setting is crucial for guiding the project's direction and ensuring that all team members are aligned with the project's aims.
2. Resource Allocation and Management: Efficient utilization and management of resources, including team members, technology, materials and budget, are key to ensuring that the project progresses smoothly without overstretching the available resources.
3. Time Management: This includes creating a project timeline, setting deadlines, and ensuring that the project stays on schedule. It often involves using tools like Gantt charts or project management software to track progress and adjust timelines as needed.
4. Communication and Stakeholder Management: Effective communication within the team and with external stakeholders is essential. Keeping everyone informed and involved throughout the project ensures transparency and collaboration.
5. Project Documentation and Reporting: Maintaining comprehensive documentation of the project's progress, changes, and outcomes. Regular reporting to stakeholders is also crucial for keeping them updated on the project's status.
Tools Used in Project Management for Marketing:
Example of Project Management Skills for Resume
"Successfully managed and executed a comprehensive marketing project for Company Y, resulting in a 40% increase in campaign ROI and a 25% boost in overall brand engagement through strategic planning, cross-functional team coordination, and effective budget management over a 12-month period."
How To Improve Project Management Skills?
PMI Kickoff: A free 45-minute course by the Project Management Institute designed for beginners. It covers the basics of project management and offers a digital toolkit to manage projects from start to finish.
Project Management (Short Course) by Oxford Home Study College: This course is tailored for beginners and covers the fundamentals of project management. The course is free, and you can obtain a certificate for a small fee.
PMP Basics by Simplilearn: A free course that introduces you to project management methodologies and tools like Trello. It's suitable for beginners, and you receive a certificate upon completion.
Applied Scrum for Agile Project Management by the University of Maryland: This course teaches the key project management processes and philosophies behind Scrum. Although the course itself is free, there's a fee for the shareable certificate.
📚 Further reading: Project Managers: Resume Examples, Formats & Tips
It's important to effectively showcase your skills on resumes and in interviews. Here are three tips to highlight skills in resumes, along with examples:
Technical marketing skills are specific, practical abilities related to marketing, like using analytics tools and understanding digital marketing trends.
With the increasing reliance on digital technology, having technical marketing skills makes candidates more competitive and capable of handling modern marketing challenges.
Highlight achievements using quantifiable results, list proficiency in industry-standard tools, and describe key learnings from internships or projects.
Use the STAR method to structure responses, stay updated on industry trends, and ask smart, insightful questions about the company and its role.
Yes, many online platforms offer courses in various aspects of digital and technical marketing, often with certifications upon completion.
Familiarity with tools like Google Analytics, CRM software, SEO, and SEM tools is highly beneficial in the field of digital marketing.
Proficiency in technical skills can significantly enhance the effectiveness and ROI of marketing campaigns.
Effectively showcasing your skills in job applications and interviews is vital for career path success. Utilizing the STAR method helps structure your responses in interviews to highlight your accomplishments. Keeping updated with industry knowledge and trends ensures you're prepared for discussions about the field. Lastly, asking insightful questions demonstrates your genuine interest in the role and the marketing team. By applying these strategies, you'll present yourself as a well-rounded and informed candidate. For more career resources and tips, check out Cake’s blog to get valuable information and keep yourself one step closer to your career goals.
Cake is a free resume builder and portfolio builder that provides hundreds of resume templates (free download) and various job resume examples to help showcase the best you. Landing your dream job will be a piece of cake!
— Originally Written by Cahya Leong —
Explore a range of job search tools and resources to achieve your dream career goals. Join the fastest-growing talent platform in the APAC region and expand your professional network.